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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
I just feel like this didn't have to be a full book in the story of Earthsea. Nothing happens and frankly I think it says something that the two female POV books have the MC being saved by a man repeatedly and the two male POV books have the MC saving the world and conquering a powerful evil. Also there were too many passages in here that felt deeply misogynistic while being treated as truth and gospel.
Ursula "gender roles" Le Guin didn't stop there though with a banger of an afterword stating that the female characters are the driving force of the plot and do everything! No! Wrong! That's not in fact the book you wrote! The female characters find the solution to problems presented exactly once, and the solution is so poor its failure becomes a major part of the plot. Every other time a problem occurs either a male character deus ex machinas themselves in and saves the woman or the woman calls on some other non-female force to save them. Bad book.
Ursula "gender roles" Le Guin didn't stop there though with a banger of an afterword stating that the female characters are the driving force of the plot and do everything! No! Wrong! That's not in fact the book you wrote! The female characters find the solution to problems presented exactly once, and the solution is so poor its failure becomes a major part of the plot. Every other time a problem occurs either a male character deus ex machinas themselves in and saves the woman or the woman calls on some other non-female force to save them. Bad book.
I don't know what growing Ursula did as an author from 1972 to 1990, but it was noticeable. I still have the last two Earthsea books to go, but so far this was my favorite. Her descriptions, dialogue, and transitions were all more fluid and vivid.
I think that it helped that the majority of the journey in this novel was of Tenar and not so much Ged. The running themes were plentiful, but not overly so.
I strongly suggest that no one stop the Earthsea Cycle after the first three, because book 4 is fantastic.
I think that it helped that the majority of the journey in this novel was of Tenar and not so much Ged. The running themes were plentiful, but not overly so.
I strongly suggest that no one stop the Earthsea Cycle after the first three, because book 4 is fantastic.
a must-read for anyone vaguely interested in writing OR reading fantasy, i think.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content, Xenophobia
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book takes a much more philosophical and adult stance than the previous 3 earthsea books.
I really enjoyed the slice of life feel with snippets on the roles of men and women in earthsea for most of the book. However, by the final ~third of the book the same points had been circled around so many times, often leading nowhere and at the expense of any story progression. This drags the rating down in the end although Le Guin is usually a high hitter for me.
I really enjoyed the slice of life feel with snippets on the roles of men and women in earthsea for most of the book. However, by the final ~third of the book the same points had been circled around so many times, often leading nowhere and at the expense of any story progression. This drags the rating down in the end although Le Guin is usually a high hitter for me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
الفكرة التي رافقتني خلال هذه القصة، كم هي دافئة، كم هي تلمس الجانب الانساني مني، وبعد أن سمعت التعقيب الذي تركته الكاتبة اخر الكتاب، رأيت تألق الجوهرة التي مرت علي للتو...